Hiland has sent 41 girls to college basketball

Saturday

Dec 24, 2016 at 5:00 AM

By Kevin Lynch Staff Writer

BERLIN -- Since Dave Schlabach took over as head coach of the Hiland Lady Hawks basketball program, he has helped send 41 girls on to play basketball at the next level. That is enough girls to field eight basketball teams!

When you have constructed one of the most successful girls basketball programs in the state, fielding four state championship teams and earning 14 trips to Columbus overall, with 46 All-Ohio players, the success Hiland has enjoyed should come as no surprise.

His first big class of college bound players was back in 1993, when Melanie Mishler and Sheila Mullet went off to Goshen College and Tonya Miller went to Malone. Since then, 38 other girls have gone on to play college basketball with one girl, Launa Hochstetler, playing professionally over in The Netherlands.

The latest Hiland player to sign is senior Angela Troyer, daughter of Delon and Liz Troyer, who will continue her basketball career at Ohio Dominican University.

"I am so excited about Angela and getting another Hiland girl in our program," said ODU coach Lynsey Warren.

Mykeila Mast and Katelyn Stuckey were the last two Hiland players to play for the Lady Panthers.

"Coach Schlabach has a tremendous basketball program. What he stands for, what he instills in the girls who grow up in his program is exactly what I want to continue when they enter into my program," Warren said. "In addition to providing his players with the necessary knowledge and skill-set to be competitive, Coach Schlabach also builds toughness and character. You can see it in the way his players walk and talk on and off the court.

"I have always had a great amount of respect for Coach and his program," the coach continued. "Angela is no exception, her and her family impress me more and more each time I see them. I am looking forward to having Angela and her family join our program here at ODU. We can all learn from her and her experience as a Hiland Hawk."

Not only have 40 former players moved on to play college ball, more than $3.4 million in scholarships has been awarded as well. Five girls are currently playing college ball while three more are coaching, two collegiately.